Venezuela arrests opposition activists ahead of rally

President Maduro labels protest march planned for Thursday a plot to stir up violence and set the stage for a coup.

31 Aug 2016 10:51 GMT

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro says several opposition activists accused of plotting violence during an anti-government rally scheduled for Thursday have been arrested.

Opposition leaders criticised Tuesday's arrests as intimidation, calling on sympathisers from across the country to march in the capital Caracas to push for a recall referendum against Maduro.

The forthcoming march follows months of tensions between Maduro and the opposition-controlled legislature, aggravated by high inflation, product shortages and a severe economic recession.

Maduro also called the scheduled rally a plot to stir up violence and set the stage for a coup.

Looting rises in Venezuela as economy plummets

"We must win the battle against the coup, before, during, and after the dates announced by these fascists," Maduro said.

"We've captured a group of people carrying important equipment, C4 explosives. We're trying to capture a number of them in real time. Whoever gets involved in a coup plot, or calls for violence, is going to jail, sir. Shriek, weep or scream, but you're going to jail."

Maduro also accused the US of plotting against leftist governments in Latin America.

"The threat is coming directly from American imperialism," he said.

Intelligence agents raided opposition party Popular Will's offices on Tuesday and arrested long-time street activist Carlos Melo. Another Popular Will activist, Yon Goicoechea, was arrested on Monday on charges of carrying explosives.

A Popular Will leader, jailed former mayor Daniel Ceballos, was transferred to prison from house arrest on Saturday. He was accused of trying to escape his home to plot violence during the march.

Opposition leaders have accused elections authorities of intentionally stalling the recall vote. Maduro's approval rating in July fell to a nine-month low of 21 percent, according to Datanalisis.

"We denounce the pathetic way in which the government is seeking to demobilise and intimidate the democratic leadership," said Jesus Torrealba, leader of the Democratic Unity coalition.

With Venezuela hit by shortages of food, medicine and basic goods, the opposition coalition behind the referendum, the Democratic Unity Roundtable, insists that getting rid of Maduro's socialist government is the only way out of the crisis.